Plant Fact Sheet

BLACK LOCUST
Robinia pseudoacacia L.
Plant Symbol = ROPS
Contributed by: USDA NRCS New York State Office

invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace

desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please
consult with your local NRCS Field Office,
Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural
resource or agriculture department regarding its
status and use. Weed information is also available
from the PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov.
Description
Black locust has a shallow, aggressive root system.
The bark of black locust is deeply furrowed and is
dark reddish-brown to black in color. It has an
alternate branching pattern, which creates a zigzag
effect. A pair of sharp thorns grows at each node.
They are to inches long, and very stout.
The pinnately compound leaves are 8 to 14 inches
long, with 7 to 19 short stalked leaflets. These dull
green leaflets are ovoid or oval, 1 to 2 inches long,
thin, scabrous above and pale below.

William S. Justice
Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution

Alternate Names
False acacia, yellow locust
Uses
Since the wood of black locust is strong, hard, and
extremely durable, it is extensively utilized for
fencing, mine timbers, and landscaping ties. This
tree also serves as a good erosion control plant on
critical and highly disturbed areas, due to its ease of
establishment, rapid early growth and spread, and soil
building abilities. It has limited value in wildlife
food plots, but provides excellent cover when planted
in spoil areas. Due to its showy aromatic flower, it
has often been planted as an ornamental, but this
practice should be discouraged due to the potential
for spread by root suckers. This species has been
planted outside its natural range, and can crowd out
other plants, particularly in sandy soils.
Status
Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State
Department of Natural Resources for this plants
current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species,
state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).
Weediness
This plant is considered noxious and/or invasive in
some states. This plant may become weedy or

The separate male and female plants have sweetly

fragrant flowers that are creamy white with five
petals (bean-like) arranged in a pyramidal spike.
They usually bloom in May or June. Heavy seed
production can be expected annually or biannually.
The legume type seed is produced in a flat, brown to
black pod, which is 2 to 4 inches long. There is an
average of 25,500 seeds per pound. Although black
locust is a good seed producer, its primary means of
spread is by both rudimentary and adventitious root
suckers.
Adaptation and Distribution
Black locusts native range follows the Appalachian
Mountains from Pennsylvania to Alabama, and a
secondary population exists primarily in the Ozark
Mountains. Black locust is adapted to a wide variety
of soil types, but grows best on sites that are deep,
well drained, and derived from limestone. This tree
tolerates a pH range of 4.6 to 8.2. It is commonly
found on south and west slopes in West Virginia.
For a current distribution map, please consult the
Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS
Website.
Establishment
Due to the ease of vegetative reproduction, black
locust is seldom grown from seed. If seedling
production is desirable, the hard seed coat must first

Plant Materials <http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/>

Plant Fact Sheet/Guide Coordination Page <http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/intranet/pfs.html>
National Plant Data Center <http://npdc.usda.gov>

be reduced or broken to allow germination; this can

be done with sulfuric acid or hot water. Once treated,
the seed can be sown on raised nursery beds or
directly on to field sites. Black locust seed combined
in grass and legume mixtures can be broadcast,
drilled, hydroseeded, or aircraft dispersed. Limit
locust to 3 pounds per acre in such mixtures.
Black locust is easily propagated from softwood,
hardwood, and root cuttings. Preparing 6 to 12 inch
hardwood cuttings, collected while dormant is often
the most effective procedure. This form of cutting
responds well to root-inducing chemicals. Grafting is
also a viable propagation option to maintain varietal
integrity.

Control
Please contact your local agricultural extension
specialist or county weed specialist to learn what
works best in your area and how to use it safely.
Always read label and safety instructions for each
control method. Trade names and control measures
appear in this document only to provide specific
information. USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or
warranty the products and control methods named,
and other products may be equally effective.
Prepared By & Species Coordinator:
John Dickerson (retired), USDA NRCS New York
State Office, Syracuse, New York
Edited: 05Feb2002 JLK; 060816 jsp

Management
During establishment, protection from weeds and
deer are the main management priorities. Due to the
rapid early growth, two years of protection are
usually sufficient. Pre-plant site preparation to
control weeds with tillage or herbicides is
recommended, with continued weed control after
planting. Where exceptional deer pressure exists,
tubes or mesh sleeves may be required. Once
established this species will not require active
management unless straight trunks are desired for
fence posts- see Pests for information about
controlling locust borers.
Pests and Potential Problems
There are 2 primary insects inflicting damage on
black locust: locust leaf miner and black locust borer.
The leaf miner attacks the tree in spring, turning the
leaves brown by mid-summer or early fall. Overall
tree growth is impacted, but not seriously. The larvae
of the locust borer carve tunnels through the trunk of
the tree, weakening it enough for wind breakage.
Planting on good quality sites or in conjunction with
other hardwood species and shading trunks will
discourage infestation by locust borers. Heart rot is
the only noteworthy disease effecting black locust.
Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and
area of origin)
Ornamental varieties have been developed which are
available from commercial nurseries. The Steiner
group black locust was selected and released by the
NRCS Plant Materials Program, for critical area revegetation in the Appalachian region. The three
cultivars in the Steiner group, 'Appalachia' (VA),
'Allegheny' (WV), and 'Algonquin' (WV) are clonally
propagated.

For more information about this and other plants, please contact
your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the
PLANTS Web site<http://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials
Program Web site <http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

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